With Notes on Remediation, Penetration Testing, Disclosures, Patching and Exploits

Contents

Vital information on this issue

Scanning For and Finding Vulnerabilities in Device Type

Penetration Testing (Pentest) for this Vulnerability

Security updates on Vulnerabilities in Device Type

Disclosures related to Vulnerabilities in Device Type

Confirming the Presence of Vulnerabilities in Device Type

False positive/negatives

Patching/Repairing this vulnerability

Exploits related to Vulnerabilities in Device Type

Vital Information on This Issue
Vulnerabilities in Device Type is a Low risk vulnerability that is one of the most frequently found on networks around the world. This issue has been around since at least 1990 but has proven either difficult to detect, difficult to resolve or prone to being overlooked entirely.

Vulnerability Name:

Device Type

Test ID:

13505

Risk:

Low

Category:

Preliminary Analysis

Type:

Attack

Summary:

Based on the remote operating system, it is possible to determine what the remote system type is (eg: a printer, router, general-purpose computer, etc).
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Scanning For and Finding Vulnerabilities in Device Type
Use of Vulnerability Management tools, like AVDS, are standard practice for the discovery of this vulnerability. The primary failure of VA in finding this vulnerability is related to setting the proper scope and frequency of network scans. It is vital that the broadest range of hosts (active IPs) possible are scanned and that scanning is done frequently. We recommend weekly. Your existing scanning solution or set of test tools should make this not just possible, but easy and affordable. If that is not the case, please consider AVDS.

Penetration Testing (pentest) for this Vulnerability
The Vulnerabilities in Device Type is prone to false positive reports by most vulnerability assessment solutions. AVDS is alone in using behavior based testing that eliminates this issue. For all other VA tools security consultants will recommend confirmation by direct observation. In any case Penetration testing procedures for discovery of Vulnerabilities in Device Type produces the highest discovery accuracy rate, but the infrequency of this expensive form of testing degrades its value. The ideal would be to have pentesting accuracy and the frequency and scope possibilities of VA solutions, and this is accomplished only by AVDS.

Security Updates on Vulnerabilities in Device Type
For the most current updates on this vulnerability please check
www.securiteam.com Given that this is one of the most frequently found vulnerabilities, there is ample information regarding mitigation online and very good reason to get it fixed. Hackers are also aware that this is a frequently found vulnerability and so its discovery and repair is that much more important. It is so well known and common that any network that has it present and unmitigated indicates "low hanging fruit" to attackers.

Disclosures related to this vulnerability

Confirming the Presence of Vulnerabilities in Device Type
AVDS is currently testing for and finding this vulnerability with zero false positives. If your current set of tools is indicating that it is present but you think it is probably a false positive, please contact us for a demonstration of AVDS.

False positive/negatives
The secret killer of VA solution value is the false positive. There was an industry wide race to find the most vulnerabilities, including Vulnerabilities in Device Type ,and this resulted in benefit to poorly written tests that beef up scan reports by adding a high percentage of uncertainty. This may have sold a lot of systems some years ago, but it also stuck almost all VA solutions with deliberately inaccurate reporting that adds time to repairs that no administrator can afford. Beyond Security did not participate in this race to mutually assured destruction of the industry and to this day produces the most accurate and actionable reports available.

Patching/Repairing this Vulnerability

Vulnerabilities in Device Type is a Low risk vulnerability that is also high frequency and high visibility. This is the most severe combination of security factors that exists and it is extremely important to find it on your network and fix it as soon as possible.

Exploits related to Vulnerabilities in Device Type

Please also visit www.securiteam.com to view any exploits available for this vulnerability, or search using "Vulnerabilities in Device Type".